A passionate, music-filled drama hit the silver screens at Elgin’s Marcus Theater for the 33rd annual Latino Film Festival this April, highlighting some of the best Latino films of the year.

Director Diego Rísquez’s  biopic film “El Malquerido”, loosely translated to “The Bad Guy”, premiered to a nearly full audience, who laughed during the film, but left the theater quietly.

El Malquerido follows the rise and fall of Felipe Pirela (Jesús Miranda), a famous Venezuelan singer in the late 1960’s and 70’s. It begins with brief moments of his childhood, singing for his mother and eventually, on the radio.

As he grew older, he joins ‘Billo’s Caracas Boys Orchestra’ which became a prominent stepping stone for his walk into fame. The film shows his rapidly growing fan base as he travels with the orchestra. Pirela leaves the small-time band to become a solo artist and signs with major label record company.

During this time, he meets and immediately falls in love with a thirteen year old girl, Mariela Montiel, which becomes a pivotal part in his untimely downfall. He proposes to her and they are married within the month, while many of his friends, family, and fellow musicians watch with unease. While he begins to have great success touring the nation, he runs into issues with his young wife and her mother. The film depicts the drama that follows him as he travels, and his mother-in-law’s false accusations of him that go public. The couple divorce two years later after bitterness grows between them.

Pirela goes on to create nearly a dozen albums after, despite his depression and creeping cocaine addiction. The film ends abruptly when Pirela is murdered after his concert by his cocaine dealer because of a supposed debt.

“El Malqueirdo” has a shiny vintage feel to it, from fancy Cadillacs to seedy nightclubs. The first thing I noticed about the film was it’s warm sepia tone, which at times was a bit overdone, but suited the film nicely. The acting was well done, with a decent amount of dynamic character development. Throughout ‘El Malquerido”, you watch Pirela change from a quiet, wide-eyed child to a fame addicted celebrity. My biggest qualm with the film is how rushed the ending is. Pirela’s serious cocaine addiction is only briefly shown about 15 minutes before the film’s end, and the ending scene is anti-climactic and a bit of a let down. The majority of the film fits together so smoothly, thus making the final scene feel like the ending to a different film.

Overall, I give the film a 6 out of 10. It’s glamorous, yet earthy visuals and sturdy acting allow “El Malquerido” to be good, but not great.